Abstract

The world's largest research-based pharmaceuticals firm, Pfizer is well known for its blockbuster drugs such as the pain management drug Celebrex, erectile dysfunction therapy Viagra, and cholesterol-lowering Lipitor. Pfizer's biggest challenge currently is patent expiration. The company has already warned investors it will probably lose some $14 billion due to patent expirations by 2007. Besides, the sales of some of Pfizer's blockbuster drugs such as Viagra and Lipitor are declining due to intensifying competition from other drug makers. Pfizer is also moving in a direction that will pit it against biotech companies such as Onyx, Genentech. Will Pfizer be able to find alternative sources of revenue? Will Pfizer's forays into biotech succeed?

Learning Objectives

The case is structured to achieve the following Learning Objectives:

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Keywords

Pfizer, research-based pharmaceuticals firm, pain management drug Celebrex, Viagra, Lipitor, Pfizer's patent expiration, Pfizer's blockbuster drugs and Pfizer's forays into biotec